7 Things Urgent Care Providers Want You to Know

Doctor William C Lloyd Healthgrades Medical Reviewer
Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Written By Katie Lambert on October 14, 2020
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    Expert Knowledge and Tips from Urgent Care Providers
    You have symptoms you want checked, but it’s after hours or your primary care physician doesn’t have appointments open. The emergency room may have long wait times and be more care than you need. Urgent care centers fill the gap, staffed with doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants (PAs) who can treat conditions like infections, broken bones, and coughs. And the industry is growing: According to the Urgent Care Association's count, there were more than 7,600 urgent care centers in the United States in 2017, with 400 to 500 new ones being added each year.

    What should you know before stepping through the doors of your local urgent care? We asked some urgent care providers to find out.
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    1. "Some illnesses require the emergency department. But most don't."
    “An urgent care is typically for your immediate illness or injury like a cough, cold, mild headache, throat pain, UTI (urinary tract infection) symptoms, concerns about a broken bone, [or] cuts requiring stitches,” says Devin Minior, MD, chief medical officer at Banner Urgent Care Services, headquartered in Arizona. “An emergency department (ED) is really for illnesses or injuries that are or may be life- or limb-threatening. This would include chest pain that could be attributed to a possible heart attack, stroke-type symptoms, severe shortness of breath, or passing out in an elderly patient.” If you think you're dealing with a life-threatening (or limb-threatening) emergency, go to the hospital. But otherwise, there's a good chance urgent care providers can take care of what ails you.
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    2. "Some illnesses are better treated by your primary care doctor."
    “With so many healthcare options out there, sometimes it can be difficult to know where to go,” says Emi Chiusano, MD, area medical director for MedExpress Urgent Care, a multi-state urgent care provider. “Primary care physicians (PCPs) and primary care offices are ideal for managing ongoing conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, or COPD,” he says. “Urgent care centers can help bridge the gap between medical emergencies that require a trip to the ER and ongoing, chronic care with PCPs by treating everyday illnesses and injuries that require timely attention.” Urgent care centers are great for acute conditions, like lacerations, the flu, or an upset stomach, but for chronic conditions, it's best to have a comprehensive, long-term care plan in place with your primary care doctor or specialist.
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    3. “You won't get 'better' care in the hospital."
    “There's a common misconception that urgent care centers are a 'doc in a box' providing low-quality care,” says David Shih, MD, executive vice president of strategy, health and innovation and co-founder of CityMD, an urgent care provider in New York. “But most clinicians working in urgent care have an emergency medicine background, and there are a lot of family practice-trained providers. They are certified, well trained, and well versed in dealing with acute care.” Adds Dr. Chiusano: “Sometimes patients will ask me whether urgent care providers go through the same training and credentialing process as other providers, say in a hospital setting. The answer is yes. Urgent care providers are highly trained, board-certified, and credentialed in the states they practice medicine.”
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    4. "You might see a doctor, a nurse practitioner, or a PA, and they're all very qualified."
    “Some [urgent care] practices, like ours, are MDs only, with nurse practitioners and physician assistants as adjuncts,” says Dr. Shih. “Other successful practices focus mostly on mid-level clinicians; others are a mix. There's no right or wrong answer—it's about the type of clinician and how well trained they are,” he says. “A very well-trained ER nurse practitioner or PA will be very effective and capable of taking care of the majority of patients.” Adds Kristen Shay, ARNP, FNP-C, of Broward Health Urgent Care Center in Florida: “Nurse practitioners can provide 99% of the services physicians provide, from ordering X-rays to interpreting labs, and a protocoling physician is always just a call away.”
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    5. "Urgent care is cheaper and faster than the emergency department."
    "For heart attacks and strokes, the ED is the correct place to be," says Dr. Minior. "But for most other common and immediate health needs, patients will be seen and evaluated in an almost identical manner [at urgent care] as the ED, but at a much lower cost to the patient and at a significant time savings. Our average length of stay for our patients is well under 60 minutes."

    According to the Health Care Cost Institute, the average cost of an outpatient ER visit was $1,917 in 2016. "Patients are realizing you can receive high-quality but low-cost care at urgent care centers," says Dr. Shih. Most take a variety of methods of payment, from private insurance to Medicare and Medicaid, as well as self-pay.
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    6. "Come prepared and come early."
    One of the greatest benefits to healthcare consumers is that urgent care centers are open for extended hours on weekends and evenings. But arriving early can help you limit your time in the waiting room. “The closer we get to closing time, the busier it is,” says nurse practitioner Shay. “The majority of our patients come in after work, so our busiest times are 6 [p.m.] to 8 [p.m.]” Other busy times? December through February (flu season), back-to-school time, and holiday break. She also recommends bringing your medications with you, or a list of medications (including supplements and over-the-counter remedies you've been taking), and your medical history, including surgeries you've had. Plan ahead and keep an index card with this information in your wallet.
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    7. "Not all urgent care centers are created equal."
    “Not all urgent cares are alike,” says Dr. Shih. “Doing research is important. With the evolution of urgent care, I think the cream will rise to the top and quality care will become more well-defined, but right now, people have a tendency to lump them all together.” His tips: Look at the practice's website to find out more about their scope of practice and staffing, check their social media accounts, and find reviews online. You can also ask if a clinic has opted to receive certification and accreditation from the Urgent Care Association, or you can ask your primary care doctor’s office for recommendations. Finally, check what urgent care centers your health insurance plan covers.
7 Things Urgent Care Providers Want You to Know
Contributors
  • Area Medical Director for MedExpress Urgent Care

  • Chief Medical Officer, Banner Urgent Care Services/Banner Occupational Health, headquartered in Arizona.
  • Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, Broward Health Urgent Care Center in Coral Springs, Fla.
  • Executive Vice President of CityMD, an urgent care in the New York metro area. Board certified in emergency medicine.
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Last Review Date: 2020 Oct 14
THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.